2010 looks to be a great year for readıng about İstanbul

“İstanbul’da Ölmeden Önce Yapmanız Gereken 101 Şey” (101 Things to Do in İstanbul Before You Die): This book, written by Akdoğan Özkan, was published by İnkılap Publishing in 2008. The book offers tips on where to eat, nice nature spots and activities, nighttime and music events and so on, all in one book. The author, who clearly knows İstanbul well, uncovers the secrets of the city and offers them to the reader. He shows readers what awaits them in the city; many places people may not have actually heard of before.

40 writers on 40 districts

“İstanbul’um -- 40 Kitap” (My İstanbul -- 40 Books): Cooperation between the İstanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency Literature Directorate and Heyamola Publications has led to the publication of 40 books in the “İstanbul’um” (My İstanbul) series. Forty neighborhoods of İstanbul have been written about by 40 writers for this series. Some of the writers and quarters featured in this series are: Abdullah Uçman, Fatih; Adnan Özer, Gaziosmanpaşa; Adnan Özyalçıner, Karagümrük; Ali Taygun, Kurtuluş; Alim Kahraman, Bağlarbaşı; Ari Çokona, Fener; Ataol Behramoğlu, Adalar; Ayşe Sarısayın, Beşiktaş; Beşir Ayvazoğlu, Beyazıt; Celal Özcan, Göztepe; Cüneyt Altunç, Suadiye; and Haydar Egülen, Cihangir.

Get to know these top 100s from İstanbul

The İstanbul Municipality’s Kültür A.Ş. has launched the “İstanbul’un Yüzleri” (Faces of İstanbul) series. And within the framework of this project, which is supported by the İstanbul 2010 agency, books such as “İstanbul’un 100 Ressamı” (100 Painters from İstanbul), “İstanbul’un 100 Kaybolan Eseri” (100 Lost Treasures from İstanbul) and “İstanbul’un 100 Fotoğrafçısı” (100 Photographers from İstanbul) are being published. By the end of this project, there will be some 100 different books on various topics such as sites, people and historical and cultural phenomena having to do with İstanbul.

Do you know the legends associated with İstanbul?

Two more books supported by the İstanbul 2010 agency will be available to readers soon, “İstanbul Masalları” (İstanbul Legends) and “İstanbul’un Yeşilliği” (İstanbul’s Green Areas). Previously unshared İstanbul legends from the archives of folklore expert and folk literature researcher Mehmet Halit Bayrı are shared with readers in “İstanbul Masalları.” Sevengül Sönmez and Uğur Aktaş have compiled these legends, which come to us from the Ottoman era, for modern readers. And in “İstanbul’un Yeşilliği,” Sönmez and Aktaş also take up the subject of İstanbul’s many historical forests as well as some of the gardens, orchards and rivers, some of which have disappeared over time.

Discover İstanbul step by step

Two books on İstanbul have been prepared by Boyut Publications. The first is “İstanbul-Bölge Haritaları ile Adım Adım Gezi Rotaları” (İstanbul-Tour Routes Using Regional Maps). This is not only an all-encompassing guide to the city but the ideal bedside book for discovering the city. The second book is aimed at foreign visitors and was thus published only in English: “European Capital of Culture İstanbul.” This too is a great guide for those visiting İstanbul in 2010 and those wishing to discover every possible corner of the city. This book includes many maps and tips on how to avoid some common problems that might bother visitors to the city.

Sultan of the lands and the seas

The 17th book in Yapı Kredi Publications’ city series, “Karaların ve Denizlerin Sultanı İstanbul” (İstanbul -- Sultan of the Lands and the Seas), presents a huge book on İstanbul in honor of the city’s 2010 Capital of Culture status. The book includes pieces by 40 different writers who deal with a timeline that stretches from prehistoric times to modern times. The Turkish version of this book is composed of two volumes, while there is also a 380-page English version, which is composed of 10 pieces of writing from the Turkish version that focus largely on architecture. “Karaların ve Denizlerin Sultanı İstanbul” / Editor: Filiz Özdem

Two great experts in one book

During the summer months of 1969, one of the most important newspapers of that era, Akşam, published a series titled “Al İşte İstanbul” (Here’s İstanbul For You), which was a collaboration between journalist Çetin Altan and photojournalist Ara Güler. That particular view of İstanbul gave readers glimpses of the city through the writings of one of Turkey’s print media masters, Çetin Altan, and the lens of famous Turkish photographer Ara Güler. “Al İşte İstanbul” (Here’s İstanbul For You) / Ara Güler, Çetin Altan, YKY

İstanbul from the point of view of travel writers

“Seyyahların Aynasında Şehirlerin Sultanı İstanbul” (The Sultan of Cities, İstanbul, as Reflected by Travel Writers): This book takes a chronological journey through some of the pieces written about İstanbul and the city’s residents by foreign travel writers over the years. Compiled by Ümit Meriç, this book takes readers from the middle of the 15th century to the end of the 20th century, with beautifully detailed writing as well as photographs. The book is a cooperative effort between Timaş Publications and Albaraka.

The stairways and downhill pathways of İstanbul

Sel Publications, recognizing that the upcoming 2010 European Capital of Culture activities will increase interest in İstanbul, is planning to publish new books on the city as well as re-publishing books about İstanbul that have gone out of print. Last year’s publication, Cahit Kayra’s “İstanbul’un Yokuş ve Merdivenleri” (İstanbul’s Downhill Pathways and Stairways), gained much attention when it first came out. And now three books by Orhan Türker, “Osmanlı İstanbul’undan Bir Köşe: Tatavla” (Tatavla: A Corner from Ottoman İstanbul), “Nihori’den Yeniköy’e Bir Boğaziçi Köyünün Hikayesi” (From Nihori to Yeniköy, the Story of a Bosporus Village) and “Fanari’den Fener’e Bir Haliç Hikayesi” (From Fanari to Fener, a Golden Horn Story), are all being re-published for 2010. Türker will also publish a new book available for 2010.

  Books from İş Bankası Cultural Publications that feature photographs of İstanbul: “İstanbul’un Surları” (The Walls of İstanbul) by Selim Seval; “İstanbul’un Sokak Köpekleri” (The Street Dogs of İstanbul) by Arif Aşçı; “İstanbul’un Sokak Kedileri” (The Street Cats of İstanbul) by Arif Aşçı; “İstanbul’un Kuşları” (The Birds of İstanbul) by Arif Aşçı

  A book called “İstanbul Haritaları 1422-1922” (Maps of İstanbul from 1422-1922) has been prepared by Ayşe Yetişkin Kubilay and published by Denizler Bookhouse.

  In the book “100% İstanbul” (İnkılap Publications), Erk Acarer takes readers on a journey through time in İstanbul.

 With the books “2 Günde Tarihi Yarımada” (Historical Peninsula in Two Days) and “2 Günde Pera ve Boğaz” (Pera and the Bosporus in Two Days) from writer İsmail Güzelsoy, readers will be able to explore the city on their own while learning tremendous amounts. These books from Alfa Publications feature hundreds of wonderful photos, too.

 “İstanbul’un Sokakları” (The Streets of İstanbul) features 101 writers describing the streets of İstanbul, almost pulling the reader by the hand to see these scenes. Compiled by Murat Yalçın.

 “İstanbul’un Sayfaları” (The Pages of İstanbul, Doğan publications) includes more than 350 color photographs of the city. Murat Belga brings readers on a journey through the history and culture of the city in this work.

 The “İstanbul Gezi” (İstanbul Tour) book from Kaynak Publications was prepared by Halil Ersin Avcı. There is not only important information about historical sites here but also addresses of great places to eat and drink and important telephone numbers as well.